Treatment of laryngeal stenosis. A conservative new approach.

One of the most perplexing problems in laryngology is the treatment of laryngeal scar tissue. This can be supraglottic, glottic, or infraglottic. Two acceptable methods of treatment have been surgical and endoscopic. Endoscopic treatment consists of dilatation, excision of scar tissue with a laser, removal of scar tissue with insertion of a stent, and removal and scar tissue with injection of intralesional cortisone. Twelve cases are reported, treated with microscopic removal of scar tissue followed by voice rest and beclomethasone dipropionate (Vanceril) inhalations, a topical steroid. All twelve cases showed marked improvement measured by improved glottic opening and improvement of voice quality. Further evaluation of this method of treatment should be done as an auxiliary treatment to our present accepted regime of treatments in this troublesome condition.